Straw-cutter



E. TAYLOR.

Straw Cutter.

Patented Nov. 6, 1844.

N. PETERS. Phalo-umn n hv, Wnhinglon. O c

E. TAYLOR, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

STRAW-GUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 3,811, dated November 6, 1844.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, E. TAYLOR, of Rochester,in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Straw-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view; Fig. 2 a front elevation.

The nature of my improvement consists in constructing a straw cutterwith a straight knife in such a manner that the knife may be continuallykept sharp by means of an adjustable whet stone or other sharpeningmaterial operating upon its edge by the combined relative motions of theadjustable whet stone and knife consequent on the motion of the machinethereby setting the edge of the knife in toward the straw rest.

The construction is as follows: On a suitable frame (a) is attached ahorizontal trough box (22) in front of which there is a cast iron piecehaving an oblongaperture therein extending across the front end of thetrough and surrounded by a flanch (f) that projects outward and throughwhich the straw is brought to be cut. Against the outer edge of thisfianch the knife plays. At one end of the casting which we aredescribing is an elevated piece (6) curved and so constructed as torepresent a horses head and neck by way of ornament. This device I adaptin constructing my machines. The curved upper edge which forms the neckof the horse has a flanch which serves as a guide to the upper end of alever (h) which lever acts upon a stud (g) projecting out from the faceof the casting at the center of the circular curve (6) as its fulcrum;to the lower end of this lever the knife is attached by a point or setscrew. The opposite end of the casting has a square vertical box ('5) onit used as a corn sheller box and constructed in the usual manner; infront of this box the balance wheel (Z) revolves, the inside disk ofwhich being armed with studs acts as the sheller. In front of this wheeland near the: periphery there is a pin or crank wrist (m) upon which oneend of the knife is fastened, the other being jointed to the lever (h)as above described. There is also jointed to this lever besides theknife the upper end of a pitman (64) its lower end being jointed to alever (65) which lever has a box at its upper end in which the scythestone or other sharpener (1") is placed, which stone may be pressed upagainst the edge of the knife if required by means of screws actingagainst a spring on the back of the stone, in the side of said box. Thislever has its fulcrum near the middle of a bar (0) extending across thefront of the machine and attached to the two front legs of the frame. Bythe rotation of the wheel (Z) the knife being raised and lowered actsupon the arm of lever (h) which vibrates the pitman (a); the action ofthis pitman upon the lower arm of lever (65) giving the desired angulousmotionto the stone. along the edge of the knife. This stone may be takenout at pleasure or placed in any situation by means of the screws placedin the side of the box which receivesit.

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention, what I claimtherein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'is- The adjustableWhetstone so arranged and combined that itshall meet in its ascendingangulous motion theedge of the knife, in its descending angulous motionthereby setting the edge in toward the straw rest, and giving the edgeof the knife an appearance much like that of a sickle.

E. TAYLOR.

. Witnesses:

' LAFAYETTE CALDWELL, RICHARD KEY VVATTS.

